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"Serendipity"

In a large public venue packed with people -- not a restaurant, but more like a warehouse -- I found myself sitting near the right end of a long, narrow table. Seated next to me, to my left, attired in a dark pantsuit, was Michelle Kwan, who, presumably, I had just met. What the occasion was that had brought us both to that place, I don’t know.

Conversing with Michelle, I told her that I worked for a small book publishing company as a book formatter and copy editor. Immediately her expression showed interest in my occupation.

Michelle told me that she was searching for a book publisher to publish and market a book that was being written by members of an unnamed organization she supported. Up to that point, however, she confided, she hadn’t been successful in finding a publisher.

With that, I proceeded to describe to her my job duties: Formatting rough customer manuscripts into final, finished books ready for publication; and copy-editing some books in order to tune up the grammar, punctuation, and spelling. I then described the services my company provided, which, in addition to book-formatting and publishing, included various marketing services such as press releases and ad campaigns. The more I talked about my job and my company, the more Michelle’s face lit up with genuine interest.

Finally, with a smile, Michelle said to me, “I think it’s serendipity that I’ve met you today!”

With that, what turned out to be but a dream faded away as I awoke into my much more drab and humdrum real existence.

Did Michelle select my publisher to publish the book, and me to perform the formatting and copy-editing? Alas, that shall forever remain a mystery.

Addendum

While perhaps nothing but a fanciful notion, I believe it’s possible that at least some of our dreams are actually windows into the lives -- and views through the eyes -- of our doppelgangers residing in parallel universes. If true, then it is, in turn, possible that even if THIS Rick In San Jose will never have the pleasure of meeting Michelle in person, then perhaps another universe’s Rick In San Jose will meet, or has already met, that universe’s Michelle. And in that I take comfort.

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light from a single candle.”
--Saint Francis of Assisi